17. Tessa
Chapter 17
Tessa
NEW YEAR’S EVE…
I vy and Asher's New Year's Eve party is in full swing, their newly renovated townhouse glowing with warmth and laughter. I adjust my silver sequined dress, already regretting how short it is based on the way Zane keeps finding excuses to touch me.
"You're terrible at being subtle," I whisper when his hand grazes my lower back for the tenth time.
"Blame the dress." His eyes are dark as they sweep over me. "You knew exactly what you were doing when you chose it."
"Behave," I warn, but my skin tingles where he touches me. "We agreed to keep things quiet."
"Did we?" His thumb traces circles on my spine. "Because I don't recall agreeing to pretend I'm not completely captivated by you."
"Zane…"
"Fine." He steps back, but his eyes promise trouble. "I'll behave. For now."
I manage to mingle for about twenty minutes before I need a moment to collect myself. The way he keeps looking at me from across the room is making it hard to focus on conversations.
When I exit the bathroom, strong hands pull me into the darkened hallway.
"You're killing me in this dress," Zane murmurs against my neck.
"We shouldn't…" But I'm already melting against him as his lips find that sensitive spot below my ear.
"Shouldn't what? Want each other? Too late for that, dangerous girl."
His kiss steals my breath and my resistance. We end up in Asher's study, where things get heated but stay within the bounds of propriety because having sex on his desk was not an option, no matter how hard Zane tried.
"They're going to know," I say later, fixing my dress.
"Let them." He straightens his tie, looking entirely too pleased with himself. "I'm tired of pretending I don't want to kiss you every second of every day."
Back at the party, I notice Ivy and Asher watching us, heads together, clearly amused by our terrible attempt at secrecy.
"Ten!" The countdown begins.
"Don't even think about it," I warn Zane as he moves closer.
"Five!"
"I'm going to kiss you at one," he informs me.
"Three!"
"Everyone will see."
"Two!"
"Good."
"One!"
His kiss tastes like champagne and promise, like endings and beginnings all at once. When we break apart, the whole room is cheering—though whether for the new year or for us, I'm not sure.
"Happy New Year, my darling," he whispers against my lips.
"Happy New Year, bad boy." I can't stop smiling. "I guess the secret's out."
"Best way to start the year." He pulls me close again. "No more hiding how much I love you."
Zane holds my hand as we leave Ivy and Asher's party, the winter air crisp against our flushed cheeks.
"Come home with me," he murmurs in my ear as we wait for our Uber. "I have another idea about how we should start this year."
"Oh?" I raise an eyebrow, but my heart is already racing. "What kind of idea?"
His smile is wicked. "Let me show you."
The moment we're inside his penthouse, he reaches for me, but I dance away playfully.
"Catch me first," I tease, backing away.
Desire clouds his gaze. "Naughty…"
I laugh, darting around his couch as he stalks toward me. "Too slow!"
"Am I?" In one quick move, he vaults over the couch, catching me around the waist.
We tumble onto the plush rug, laughing and breathless. But when his eyes meet mine, all playfulness fades into something deeper, more intense.
"Got you," he whispers, brushing my hair back.
"You've had me since I was sixteen," I admit softly.
His kiss is gentle at first, but quickly builds into something more passionate. Something that speaks of endings and beginnings, of walls finally crumbled, of love finally free to be shown.
"I love you," he breathes against my skin. "More than I ever thought possible."
"Show me," I whisper back.
And as snow falls softly outside, as the city celebrates new beginnings, we create our own private celebration. Our own perfect start to a new year. Our own happily ever after.
The city lights twinkle below as snowflakes dance past his floor-to-ceiling windows. Zane's hands trace reverent patterns along my skin, his touch setting every nerve ending alight. His blue eyes are dark with intensity as they meet mine.
“Your body is a fucking dream—a fantasy,” he murmurs, his hands beginning to shake from holding back. “I want to devour you, to mark you, claim you…make you mine.”
His kiss is achingly tender at first, but quickly builds into something deeper, more passionate. His hands tangle in my hair as he pulls me closer, like he can't bear any space between us. I arch into him, my fingers tracing the strong planes of his back, memorizing every inch of him.
"You're everything," he murmurs against my lips. "Everything I never knew I needed."
We lose ourselves in each other as the snow falls silently outside, creating our own perfect celebration of new beginnings. Every touch, every kiss, every whispered word of love builds to something transcendent—a connection deeper than physical, more profound than passion.
Morning light filters through Zane's floor-to-ceiling windows, painting patterns across rumpled sheets. I stretch languidly, feeling deliciously sore and completely content.
"Happy New Year." Zane's voice is rough with sleep as he draws me against him.
"Mmm." I roll to face him. "Not a bad way to start it."
"Speaking of starts…" He props himself up on an elbow. "I have something to show you."
"More surprises?" But I'm already following him out of bed, pulling on his discarded dress shirt.
He leads me to his home office, booting up his computer. "Remember how I said the shelter would be ready by spring?"
I nod, peering over his shoulder as he pulls up floor plans and construction schedules.
"Well, the crews have been working through the holidays. We're ahead of schedule." His eyes light up as he scrolls through photos. "The apartments are almost done, and the medical facilities are being equipped next week."
"That's amazing!" I lean closer, studying the images. "Is that the kitchen?"
"Your kitchen." He pulls up a detailed rendering. "State-of-the-art equipment, training stations, everything you'll need for the culinary program."
"Our kitchen," I correct softly.
He turns to look at me, expression serious. "You sure about this? About being so involved?"
"Are you kidding?" I perch on his desk. "This is everything Ivy and I have dreamed of—using the bakery to make a real difference. She’s so beyond excited to start teaching and I can’t wait to start with the business courses."
"Even if it means spending more time with your demanding, workaholic boyfriend?"
"Especially that." I run my fingers through his messy hair. "Though I have to warn you, I can be pretty demanding myself when it comes to kitchen standards."
"I remember." He grins, pulling me into his lap. "The great Christmas dinner disaster?"
"Hey, that smoke alarm was totally your fault."
"Was not." He nips at my neck. "You distracted me."
"Did I?" I shift in his lap. "Like this?"
His hands tighten on my hips. "Tessa…"
"Yes?" I blink innocently.
"We're supposed to be discussing business."
"Are we?" I start unbuttoning his shirt that I'm wearing. "Because I thought we were discussing new beginnings."
His eyes darken as more skin is revealed. "Tessa…"
"Yes, Mr. Mercer?"
"You're making it very hard to focus on blueprints."
"Good." I stand, letting his shirt fall to the floor. "Because I have some plans of my own for this office."
What follows makes our New Year's Eve celebration look tame in comparison.
Later, sprawled across his desk with construction plans scattered around us, I can't help but laugh.
"What?" he asks, tracing patterns on my bare back.
"Just thinking about what people would say if they knew the great Zane Mercer, Chicago's most eligible CEO, spends his mornings christening office furniture."
"Don't forget rescuing cats." He kisses my shoulder. "Though, speaking of Espresso, we should probably head home soon. He gets cranky when his breakfast is late."
"Home?" I turn to face him.
"My place. Our place." He tangles our fingers together. "If you want it to be."
My heart skips. "Are you asking me to move in with you?"
"I'm asking you to build a life with me." His voice gets rough. "The shelter, the bakery program, everything… I want to do it all together. Wake up together, work together, make a difference together."
"Even if it ruins your reputation?"
"Especially then." He pulls me closer. "Let people see who I really am. Who we are together."
Tears prick my eyes. "I love who we are together.”
“Is that a yes?”
"Yes." I kiss him deeply. "To all of it. The apartment, the shelter, everything."
His smile is brighter than the morning sun. "Good. Because I already had Espresso's cat tree moved to make room for yours."
“Room for mine? But Meatball?—”
“For when you’re ready to adopt a sibling for Espresso,” he says before I can finish.
"You did not!"
"Check your phone."
Sure enough, there's a photo from Ivy, of her and Asher rearranging Espresso's room, making space for a second cat tree and adding some cat toys.
"When did you plan all this?"
"Been planning it since that first night you stayed over." He brushes my hair back.
“What made you decide to wait till now?” I ask.
He smiles sheepishly.. “Sadly, I think it was nerves. I didn’t want to disrupt Espresso’s life if I felt like I couldn’t get my shit together and do this thing right. I guess I was just waiting for the right moment to ask. I didn’t know about Meatball. That was a quick addition I had to add into the mix, the extra tree and all, but Ivy was beyond excited to help with that. Plus, Espresso's been pouting every time you leave. I think he's ready for you to stay permanently."
"And his dad?"
"More than ready." He kisses me again. "New year, new beginning, new us. All of us."